DFR Dirt

FROM THE INBOX

if the surveys didn't tell the admin enough, having to order people to go to their pin ceremony 3 years after the fact should. Anything for a photo op huh chief?

Let's discuss fraud. AGAIN.

Are we just openly condoning fraud now or what? What if an injured (…”injured”) chief’s driver is on restricted duty but somehow racks up over 1000 hours of OT in positions that are not restricted duty. Surely this world-class-celebrating-150-years-with-literally-tens-of-people would never fathom such a thing occurring, much less allow it. Not that the workers comp fraud wouldn’t be enough, but those positions might oftentimes already be filled. When brought to commands attention, wouldn’t it be crazy if the edict was DON'T DISCUSS THESE INCIDENTS. We answered our own question, we would not OPENLY condone fraud. We would privately condone fraud. That makes it OK then.

Certainly they’re not removing monikers until staffing is completed so other command techs do not fill command tech positions to make sure this “injured” restricted duty driver has a spot. That would be fu**ed up. Ain’t no way this highly ethical beyond reproach world class department would do such a thing.

And if it did happen, and come on, what kind of scumbag, grifting, as****es would do such a thing? But for s**ts and giggles let’s just say it’s happening…there’s just no way it would be coming from the same deputy’s office as all the other fraud, intimidation, arbitrary rule enforcement, be******ty, etc. There’s just no way.

Thank you for coming to our TEDTalk.

US: It's 110 degrees out. *Now* can we get working AC in the station?

CITY: Here's a vi****or. VI*****RS FOR EVERYONE! You get a vi****or! And YOU get a vi****or! tyfys

A post on our page for those who missed it:

https://edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popover.aspx?artguid=6a2ca219-cf9d-4bc2-a7d1-f2dab25543c1&fbclid=IwAR2DjCRTfka44M4DUaunaouyk6fcOKWxco6d8bX0gQ_av6AnGL4iVyOJ-xU

DALLAS FIRE-RESCUEMost workers don’t trust senior leaders - Dallas Morning News Most Dallas firefighters don’t trust their top leaders, around a quarter of almost 900 workers say they’ve experienced symptoms of depression, and nearly 1 in 10 employees say they’ve thought of harming themselves, according to the results of an internal city survey released Thursday.

From the inbox: "Be warned of the resiliency coordinator. She has reported members to IAD based on third party information and is causing members to get in trouble. What you tell her is not confidential."

From the inbox: "Is it true the department did not approve leave for members wanting to attend the IAFF peer support training?"

Maybe the results of the mental health surveys are so damn good they know we don't need it.

FROM THE INBOX:

"Where are the results of the mental health surveys that were completed? There has been plenty of time to compile the results and make a final report, especially since "mental health is a top priority" according to our fearless and caring leaders. Why would the administration not let the results out since mental health is such a concern...unless there is something in the report that they are afraid of."

From the inbox...”Ever try to call the peer support team? Don’t bother. They don’t return calls.”

What message are we sending our members? We need to figure out what the f**k is going on with us.

What’s next, a 4th investigation ordered by The Gov?

https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/after-dpd-review-no-charges-filed-against-former-paramedic-who-kicked-mentally-ill-man-13536919

After Police Review, No Charges Filed Against Former Dallas Paramedic Who Kicked Mentally Ill Man DPD recently concluded its review and said it sticks by the original findings: that there was no criminal wrongdoing by former paramedic Brad Cox.

Payroll Dept Openings!

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

Underperformance ✔️
Incompetence ✔️
Lack of critical thought ✔️
Lack of accuracy ✔️
Failure to understand basic tasks ✔️
Failure to complete basic tasks✔️
Failure to do job✔️
Collect a gov check for doing nothing ✔️

We have had some inquiries about making this page into a private group. Do you have an opinion?

Beatings will continue until morale improves.

From the inbox:

How did we get to the point where Dr. Isaacs has so much power? He took 2 paramedics off the ambulance because a patient crashed as they were pulling into Baylor. The reasons given were, they didn't pull someone off the engine to ride with them (the patient was alive and manageable), a pulse ox wasn't on the patient, and they chose to wheel the patient into the ER for their team to take over the CPR. Paramedics are continuously under the most strict microscope at all times while white shirts are allowed to be the most incompetent employees. White shirts can commit felonies, lie, intimidate, provoke, threaten, discriminate and harrass subordinates with no repercussions. This place has gone to complete s**t! We blame the leadership! And a lot of us believe this instance was even more retaliation committed against a particular station and shift. Yes, we're all paying attention WHITE SHIRTS!

Let's have a recap of events as we go into a new year.

Things we've learned you CAN get away with:

Appears you can take vaccines home to your family early on in a "pandemic"

You may change EMS patient reports on a whim

You can "misplace" $300k worth of EMS equipment

You can sleep with a teenage girl while on duty at the station

You can get away with not reporting a minor accident

You can disable station alerting systems

You can ignore a citizen's request for help when they come to the station

You can misuse city funds and buildings

You can apply grooming standards unevenly and with total discrimination

You may provoke, threaten and harrass members when they bring matters to you such as rules violations by executives

You can get away with refusing to afford your employees due process

You can commit a felony by changing a Patient Care Report, then double down by sending false accusations to the state in order to impose as much harm as possible on an employee

Things you CANNOT GET AWAY WITH:

You may not defend yourself from an aggressive attacker, be cleared through an actual thorough PUI investigation (not to be confused with the IA "investigation"). If you do you will be TERMINATED

You may not report rules violations to your chain of command. You will suffer provocation, threats of transfer, and harassment through "application" of grooming standards. You will also be rewarded with a letter of counseling after you followed orders, a 30day transfer (following through with threat) with a performance improvement plan (without being informed of any failures, which is required)

As we go into 2022, please save everyone your lip-service of calling this department World Class. That's akin to calling a pile of dog s**t a rare diamond. And one last thing to send you into a new year, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MUSTACHE.

FROM THE INBOX:

Are they going to address the issue of getting mandatoried on Christmas Day after working Christmas Eve-getting called at the station at 8 pm? Do we want to stick with the status quo? Why doesn’t dept transparency include the numbers of those calling in sick on Christmas Eve, Day and compare it to the shifts before and after. People are abusing sick time. Since it’s a known problem why doesn’t the dept plan for it?Where’s the accountability? Why doesn’t the dept incentivize Christmas Day with double pay?

COMPLIANCE UPDATE:

There’s been an update to the punishment code, by precedence. Just when you thought the white shirts wouldn't harrass a member any further, they triple down and prove you wrong. We understand that critical thinking, reading comprehension, and context clues are not everyone's strongest attribute, based off of comments claiming whining about mustaches and bedrooms. Take all the facts laid out in previous posts in to consideration. Stop getting distracted by a mustache. Don't make it about you either. Despite what your momma told you, you’re not special. It’s about EVERYONE being held to the same standards of following policies and procedures (including chiefs).

Now that we have that out of the way...It turns out that Chief Ball is true to his threats. If you bring irrefutable evidence of waste, fraud, failure to respond and egregious rule violations to him, you best just keep your mouth shut and head down.

For a member with “no priors” of any variety: an unmeasured, unverified mustache allegedly out of compliance earns you a transfer for a 30-day improvement plan. Acting 807 Chief Pacot took it upon himself to have Lt. Peavy transferred for a 30-day performance improvement plan. When an employee is put on an improvement plan, a map of what needs to be improved should be provided. Could this be considered retaliation? Does a bear s**t in the woods? For those still whisper screaming, “BUT HIS MUSTACHE!”...he shaved the mustache completely off the day he got the letter of counseling so s**u about the mustache. Still think it’s about the mustache? Spoiler alert: It’s not about the damn mustache. Since we have hard ons for compliance now...Do note, peanut gallery, there has still been no action taken in regards to those who ACTUALLY violated the policies and procedures, as laid out to 805 Chief Ball.

We are waiting for word from Dear Leader whether DFD will also further the re-education tact with Kin punishment. Hide yo kids. Hide yo parents.

Pro-tip for those who didn’t learn this in elementary school: tripling down when you are already in the wrong is really really not advised.

From the inbox:

A fire station belongs to the station officer. That station officer is responsible for the care, maintenance, repair, cleanliness, stocked supplies, personnel assignments within the station, and even locker and bed assignments. If a fire station houses a chief, that Chief is allowed to use the office designated for that assignment, and the bedroom assigned to them. The station still belongs to that company officer, unless you are 807, then all of a sudden the rules change (which is continuing to be the norm for 807 and their drivers). On day 1 (C shift) of 807 moving into Station 6 a toxic environment was created by the deputy and his driver and would continue over all 3 shifts. Station 6 was built, like all the other new stations, with a separate office that includes attached bedrooms labeled for "Chief's office" in the plans. 807C driver did not like the bedroom designated for him, so on day 1 he chose to bully (with approval of 807C) his way into taking over the bedroom that was used for the Engine drivers. The bedroom designated for 807 driver is still unoccupied. After reading the previous posts and seeing it unfold, it's apparent that 807 and their drivers never had intentions of creating a cohesive work environment. It makes one wonder if this has always been the case, at Station 1 before the move, or is it because they were given the task to break up a great workgroup. If it's the latter, they've done an outstanding job of ignoring rules and regs that govern ALL, and ensured that we have lost all respect for those that occupy that office. Great job DFD.

FROM THE INBOX:

“In June 2021, 807 was relocated to 6's. Immediately, infractions started occurring disrupting the previously well ordered station. It was assumed the appropriate responsible parties would intervene to right the transgressions. No such action was ever taken to address the fraud, financial waste, and compliance violations. Charged with the duty to act and the failure of the sworn responsible party to do so, the following events transpired:

One month ago, several rule violations were brought to the command staff through channels in the appropriate and prescribed manner by Lt. Peavy, following the policies and procedures which govern all sworn personnel. Within one week Lt. Peavy was called in for what he assumed was a meeting with Assistant Chief Ball for him to introduce more evidence sustaining these violations. This was not the case.

Instead of addressing the cited and documented fraud, compliance violations, and financial waste, Lt. Peavy was told that it was not his job to follow people around and look for rules violations or fraud, even though MOP 703.09 clearly states -Report any violations (through channels) of rules, regulations, procedures and deficiencies in the performance of duties or any failure to perform duties by any members of any rank. During this meeting, Lt. Peavy was threatened with removal from his station and transfer to another. This would obviously be against Peavy's wishes and a blatant attempt to intimidate him and impress upon him that the meeting could go a way he would not like. Assistant Chief Ball succinctly stated that he did not care about grooming standards. Assistant Chief Ball further stated that he does not care about grievances either.

Fast forward to one week ago: Acting Deputy Chief Pacot approached Lt. Peavy and talked about his mustache being out of compliance, asking if he was going to trim it. Lt. Peavy informed Acting Deputy Chief Pacot that Assistant Chief Ball told him just three weeks ago that he did not care about grooming standards. Lt. Peavy also informed Chief Pacot specifically of other members who were out of compliance, to which Acting Deputy Chief Pacot said they weren't in his chain of command. Lt. Peavy told Acting Deputy Chief Pacot that he will in fact see 807 B driver in the morning with hair out of compliance, Acting Deputy Chief Pacot did not seem to care. Lt. Peavy was given 2 shifts to get in compliance or face discipline by Acting Deputy Chief Pacot. Within 2 shifts, without measuring his mustache to ensure whether it was or was not in compliance, Lt. Peavy was given a Letter of Counseling. Less than 24 hours later, Acting Deputy Chief Pacot was in the same office with 807 B driver who is still out of compliance. There has been no attempt to enforce any compliance rules with equity and fairness across the board. This disparate treatment should be extremely concerning to all sworn personnel. This is but one documented and easily provable illustration of illegal employment discrimination, per the EEOC. It is safe to conclude that Lt. Peavy is facing backlash and retaliation for doing the right thing by informing his chain of command about fraud, waste, and rules violations. It is not a coincidence that this just happened to him, a member with an impeccable, untarnished record, after bringing to light the glaring unaddressed and STILL ONGOING violations committed in his station.

RELEVANT FACTS:
- Lt. Peavy followed all required protocols.
- Lt. Peavy asked Assistant Chief Ball if he could send what he has been working on to his friends. Ball said yes.
- Assistant Chief Ball said he did not care about grievances.
- Assistant Chief Ball said he did not care about grooming standards.
- Through failing to act, command by default approves of fraud, waste of taxpayer money, and compliance violations for *some* members. To determine if you are one of the members eligible to be out of compliance, commit fraud, and waste taxpayers funds consult with your chain of command directly. It is best to have the response in writing for clarity and protection. Documentation examples: "Member ABC is allowed to not be in compliance with grooming standards because..." or "Member ABC is not allowed to be out of compliance with grooming standards because..."

TAKE AWAYS:
If one can't, all can't. If one can, all can.
The department can learn this on their own quickly, or they can learn it the longer, expensive way through relief for harassed and targeted members via the court system. What's more taxpayer money anyway?”

FROM THE INBOX:

“With everything going on and nothing being done, Here's the link to do something about it. You can remain completely anonymous. If you continue to stay silent, you're part of the problem.”

https://dallascityhall.com/departments/ethics/Pages/Speak-Up.aspx

Speak Up ​We want you to feel empowered to voice your concerns.  The City of Dallas operates an anonymous Speak Up Line for anyone who would like to report fraud, waste and abuse concerns by City employees, departments, or contractors. 

FROM THE INBOX:

“In reference to rules for thee, not for me:

I'm sure you're aware that several years ago there was an investigation into the conduct of a Chief as it pertained to a subordinate. There were multiple allegations brought forth against the Chief. At the conclusion of the investigation, the majority of those allegations were sustained. In any reputable organization, this Chief would have faced appropriate discipline. As we know, this did not happen at DFR. *NOTHING* happened to the Chief. Multiple sustained allegations-crickets from the administration. The outcome was that the subordinate was transferred in order to avoid further conflict.

What type of toxic, low character culture does this precedent reinforce? Could this embolden members under the protective umbrella of this seemingly untouchable Chief to act as if they are teflon? Not to be melodramatic, but there may be yet another common thread.“

Watch it all or start from the 20:00 mark. In the detective’s own words you have to look at ALL the facts. Some want to disregard the repeated investigations and keep opening new investigations until they get an investigator willing to say what THEY want. $$$$

Yet still, no one is interested in the EMS office falsifying patient care records...A FELONY.

Let me just hold this rug up for you, while you sweep that s**t under it.

https://youtu.be/y58QQ06gEC4

From the inbox:

Did the EMS office have to take the SAME Compliance Training that the rest of the field personnel took (twice)? Asking for EVERY PARAMEDIC that has had to sit in IMS meetings listening to their bulls**t.

F is for FELONY

For everyone: As it appears some are unclear about this, let’s play CIVICS 101 today! YOU have a duty to act if you have direct knowledge of sworn personnel committing a felony, or felonies, if they’re overachievers.

For Medics: if you find yourself getting railed in meetings by a fellowship of felons about covers on TPS reports, that’s horses**t. Pro-tip: have them sign an affidavit swearing to operate with integrity, perhaps even not editing your documents, fabricating lies to suit their cabal’s whims. Hypothetically speaking, of course. **kinglumbergh **tty

Bonus pro-tips for the integrity challenged: Don’t commit felonies. Don’t cover up felonies. Don’t pretend you didn’t see the felonies. Don’t collude to commit felonies. Don’t employ a stooge to commit your felony of choice. The days of getting away with it are over.

To ANONYMOUSLY report compliance issues call 877-860-1061. You can also email: [email protected].

***ATTN ALL PERSONNEL***

UPDATED SOP

Your beauty sleep need not be interrupted! If everyone but you is out on runs and a citizen rings the station bell for assistance, by established no consequences precedence, it IS acceptable for you to not answer the door to assist the citizen. The citizen can wait for the engine to return for that crew to help them. This has been tested up to a 20 minute wait time for the citizen. Please report back any findings with your own stress test on this new protocol. If it’s good for the chief’s driver, it’s good for you.

DRIVER PRO-TIP: Use of a backer, will assist you in not hitting a station mailbox.

MOP 300-3a “If involved in a minor collision during non-emergency driving, the company officer, or the vehicle operator, if alone, will a) immediately notify fire dispatch that a minor collision has occurred, and state the exact location and whether the vehicle is drivable.”

Let’s play TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE. For s**ts and giggles, let’s say you:
1) backed into a station mailbox
2) while not using a backer
3) failed to notify fire dispatch and
4) you’re not a chief’s driver...what is the consequence?

From the inbox:

“Why is it that we spent so much money to repair locution and become the most technologically advanced department and you can still hear everything on all speakers all the time to where you can’t sleep at night?”

Good question. Maybe a deputy’s driver can show you how to turn them off.

From the inbox:

“It’s been brought to my attention that some members believe that I am behind this page. I would appreciate a post to inform people that I did not start this page, and I have not contributed to any of the material posted on this page.
When I speak up about something, I never do it anonymously.
That’s not my style.
That’s not what I believe in.

Brian D. Cox”